Plain requests in place of street addresses
Google has announced an update that will enhance Gemini’s reasoning capabilities in cars, allowing the assistant to provide more specific details based on your questions and prompts. The way you interact with it is also changing, as Google introduces Personal Intelligence to make conversations with Gemini more natural. For instance, you can simply say “take me to my doctor’s appointment” without having to provide a street address while driving.
If you’re in an unfamiliar city, you can ask Gemini for dinner recommendations along your route, taking into consideration your dietary preferences and restrictions, such as being a vegetarian. However, the effectiveness of these features will depend on the completeness and organization of your Gmail and calendar, as Gemini retrieves information from these sources.
You decide what it can access
Personal Intelligence is an optional feature, giving users the ability to control which data Gemini can access. If you prefer not to share your personal information, you can easily disable this feature and select the apps that Gemini can interact with. This level of control is particularly important in a car setting, where the voice assistant may have access to sensitive travel plans and appointments.
The rollout of Personal Intelligence has been rapid this year, starting with Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers at the beginning of the year. In March, Google made this feature available to all free accounts, expanding its reach to a wider audience.
Availability and timing
The Android Auto update is set to launch today, reaching most regions around the world. However, users in Switzerland, the European Economic Area, the UK, and Nigeria will have to wait a bit longer to access this feature. Additionally, cars with Google built-in will receive Personal Intelligence in the coming months, as Google plans to integrate this functionality into their native software.
